Dapto market organiser says stallholders must comply on USB chargers

By
DOMINIC GEIGER

A Dapto market organiser says the onus is on stallholders to ensure their products are safe after Fair Trading officers found four people selling unapproved USB chargers on Sunday.

A Dapto market organiser says the onus is on stallholders to ensure their products are safe after Fair Trading officers found four people selling unapproved USB chargers on Sunday.

Fair Trading also investigated Pcxite Computer Sales & Services Pty Ltd in Crown Street, Wollongong, after the Mercury revealed on Saturday that the store was selling the devices.

The non-compliant chargers have been linked to the death of 28-year-old Sheryl Anne Aldeguer, who was found dead while wearing headphones inside her East Gosford home.

Dapto market organiser Ray Gallagher said he and fellow organisers would "act immediately" if they found stallholders selling the devices.

"Vendors will be told to remove it from their stall," he said.

"If they refuse we can take that a bit further to make sure the right thing has been done.

"But the onus is on them, if they're to be fined, it's up to the authorities to do that and confiscate their goods."

When Fair Trading inspected Pcxite Computer Sales & Services on Saturday morning, all unapproved USB chargers had been removed and destroyed, but two other power supply devices were seized for inspection.

The investigation into the store is continuing.

Fair Trading Minister Matthew Mason-Cox said unapproved products found at the Dapto markets were seized for inspection and stallholders were ordered to remove all unapproved products from sale.

"Traders must recognise their responsibilities when selling electrical goods and act in accordance with the law designed to protect consumers," he said.

"As part of Fair Trading's ongoing commitment to remove unsafe products from the marketplace ... investigators are currently in the field visiting stores."

Powers under the act allow Fair Trading to direct traders to remove dangerous items from sale and allow officers to seize and detain items for examination and testing.

Penalties under the act range from on-the-spot fines of $500 to prosecutions that carry maximum penalties of $87,500 and two years' imprisonment for an individual and $875,000 for a corporation.

Covert inspections by Fair Trading at markets and stores will continue.